Part 2, Chapter 2 Summary

A few weeks later, Michel and Marceline return to Paris and move into a luxurious apartment found with the help of Marceline's brother. Michel approves exorbitant expenditures for furnishings and household items, which concerns Marceline but Michel hopes that the investment in their new home will mitigate his impulses to wander. At first Marceline enjoys the social activities available in Paris but her pregnancy and the household move exhaust her and Michel tries to alleviate some of the social obligations himself but finds that he has no patience for the inane conversations and trivial commitments. Michel longs for a life without these formal commitments and soon returns to his academic lectures.

As Michel is leaving his classroom one day he sees a friend, Menalque waiting to talk to him. It has many a long time since they last talked. Menalque is as irreverent and disdainful...